Garment Supporting Apparatus

ABSTRACT

Garment supporting apparatus for using with a breast-covering garment, comprising a flexible strap and a decorative attachment member.

The present invention relates to a combination of jewelry, clothing accessories, brassieres, brassiere strap replacements and fasteners, where a fastener doubles as a fixing and decorative garment accessory, which attaches typically to a breast-covering garment or brassiere and acts as a connector between said brassiere and a second clothing accessory, which attaches to body of wearer, to hold said breast garment in the desired position.

Typically brassieres come with fixed or detachable straps (strapless). These straps generally have a functional appearance only. FIG. 1 a ‘strapless’ bra (1) generally provides loops (2) for the attachment of straps, positioned near the upper edge of the bra. FIG. 2 shows a hook generally used to attach straps to bras. Many women find it difficult to get by with wearing a strapless bra, as it does not offer enough support and because most straps are unsightly they find there are fashionable items they cannot wear ie; strappy camisoles or strapless dresses.

Bra straps may have decorations fixed to them or decorative covers placed over them in an effort to make them more attractive, but generally they are unattractive and have purely a functional appearance and when visible lessen the overall aesthetical ensemble of a wearer. Transparent straps made of a rubberised plastic material snap easily and offer minimal amount of support.

EXAMPLES OF PRIOR ART

WO2004010814 makes an attempt to a solution by replacing conventional straps with decorative chains. These have proved unsuitable and unsafe for women with large breast as they dig into the skin.

GB 2419801 seeks to decorate an existing strap by placing decorative elements in it, but this still leaves the problem that most of the strap is visible and at best the cover creates the appearance of bulk.

The present invention replaces the conventional strap altogether with a more attractive, safe and comfortable ensemble which makes use of a portion of material, shaped as a narrow scarf or sash, which may be cotton, silk or any preferred material, to support the breast-covering garment.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector with two fixing ends, which fastens to a breast-covering garment on one end and to a garment accessory on the opposite end, said garment accessory replaces the bra straps and holds said breast-covering garment in the desired position in the body of the wearer. Said connector may be plain or embellished as an item of costume or real jewelery, using stones, crystals, diamantes, beads or any decorations well known in the costume jewelery/jewelery and accessories sector.

The current invention provides a novel, attractive and comfortable alternative to traditional bra straps and overcomes the problems associated with prior art.

Said connector may be attached to the bra or detachable and re-attachable and/or inter-changeable. It fastens to a bra or other breast-covering garment and is used in conjunction with a second garment accessory, which acts as a supporting element, generally in the form of a narrow scarf, decorated or plain, which threads through said connector to hold breast-covering garment securely and comfortably in the desired position and orientation in the body of the wearer.

The fastener/connector relating to this invention is constructed to incorporate the following in its design:

-   -   1—A fixing element, which fastens to the breast-covering garment         by various methods, which may include but not exclusively,         hooks, clasps, springs, snap hooks, sewing, Velcro.     -   2—A supporting section presenting an aperture to permit the         insertion of a portion of material, textile or other, which will         support the breast garment and connector in place by tying to         body of wearer. In some embodiments this supporting section may         be permanently attached to the connector.     -   3—An optional decorative element

It is envisaged that the item relating to this invention may be constructed as a solid piece or it may be an ensemble comprising of a series of sections joined together by connecting links in which case it is desired that the individual members of this decorative connector can move one relative to another to allow for movement ie: pivoting, swiveling, rotating and/or inter-changing of sections.

FIG. 3 illustrates an ornamental embodiment of the invention, constructed in metal alloy as customarily used in the art of fashion jewelery, where:

-   -   a) is a hook presenting a horizontal bar, which inserts through         a loop provided by a strapless bra     -   b) is the ornamental section, decorated with colour enamel and         crystal/stones     -   c) is the supporting section, also decorated, which presents the         desired aperture (e) which permits the insertion of a supporting         element in the shape of a scarf and     -   d) illustrates a connective link or clasp, which allows movement         for comfort and orientation.

As an alternative to a hook as illustrated in FIG. 3, said decorative connector may make use of a clasp, like the one illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 11 illustrates a basic arrangement of the invention, where (a) a strapless bra where a decorative connector of annular shape (b) is sewn into the garment, used in conjunction with (c) a narrow scarf with (d) fringe decorations in it, providing all sections comprised into one single piece. A preferred method of attachment of this embodiment is described below:

An individual wearing a strapless bra

-   -   a) positions the sash/scarf over the neck     -   b) threads each end of the sash individually through the         aperture provided by the annular piece sewn into the bra     -   c) secures both ends of the scarf together behind the neck,         creating strong and comfortable support.

FIG. 6 provides an illustration of a more intricate arrangement, similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 3, where the decorative connector comprises of more than one sections linked together.

FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 illustrates one-piece connectors presenting various apertures for insertion of the supporting scarf.

FIG. 10 illustrates a connector presenting a perfume holder with a screw-on top, aperture for insertion of scarf and hook for attaching to breast garment.

There are no limitations for the level of decoration and creativity associated with this novel accessory as its functionality combines with the field of jewelery design and this description is limited, for obvious reasons, to preferred embodiments although it is understood that any other embodiment or combination wherein falls within the scope of this invention. Size is variable and determined by fashion, taste, style, finances or other, but preferred size would be approximate 2 to 5 inches long by 1 to 2 inches wide and constructed in various materials preferably ones which allow safety and comfort like many of the alloy metals used in fashion jewelery, also the use of precious or semi-precious and decorative stones and crystals is desired, as are magnetic materials with health benefits and medicinal uses and perfume carriers.

Modifications and changes to the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents can be considered to fall within the scope of this invention. 

1. Garment supporting apparatus for use with a breast covering garment, comprising: a flexible strap, a decorative attachment member, said decorative attachment member having first and second fastener portions, said first fastener portion of said decorative attachment member being adapted to be removably fastened to said flexible strap, and said second fastener portion of said decorative attachment member being adapted to be fastened to said breast covering garment at one of a plurality of attachment points thereof, and wherein said flexible strap comprises a fabric member having a length suitable to engage the shoulders or neck of a wearer of said breast covering garment in order to support said breast covering garment and said decorative attachment member on the body of a wearer of said breast covering garment.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said decorative attachment member comprises a piece of jewelery.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible strap is in the form of a scarf.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said jewelery piece is comprised of a plurality of movable sections linked together.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 Wherein said flexible strap has first and second opposed attachment ends, wherein said breast covering garment is a strapless brassiere having a front portion and a back portion, and wherein said first fastener portion of said decorative member is adapted to be removably fastened to said breast covering garment at a location on said front portion of said strapless brassiere, wherein said second fastener portion of said decorative member is adapted to be removably fastened to said one of said opposed attachment ends of said flexible fabric member, and wherein the other of said opposed attachment ends of said flexible fabric member is adapted to be removably attached to said back portion of said breast covering garment.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible strap has first and second opposed attachment ends, wherein said breast covering garment is a strapless brassiere having a front portion and a back portion, and wherein said first fastener portion of said decorative member is adapted to be removably fastened to said breast covering garment at a first location on said front portion of said strapless brassiere, wherein said second fastener portion of said decorative member is adapted to be removably fastened to said one of said attachment ends of said flexible fabric member, and wherein the other of said attachment ends of said flexible fabric member is adapted to be removably attached to said front portion of said breast covering garment at another second location thereof such that said flexible strap is adapted to extend around the neck of a wearer to support said breast covering garment.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein either of said first or second fastener portions is a hook and wherein at least said one of a plurality of attachment points of said breast covering garment is adapted to be engaged by said hook.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein either of said first or second fastener portions is a spring clip and wherein one of said plurality of attachment points of said breast covering garment includes at least one loop adapted to be engaged by said spring clip.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 Wherein said flexible strap has first and second opposed attachment ends and wherein the other of said first or second fastener portions is a loop adapted to be removably fastened to said flexible fabric member by inserting either of said first or second attachment ends of said flexible fabric member through said loop.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the other of said first or second fastener portions is a spring clip adapted to be removably fastened to said either of said first or second attachment ends of said flexible fabric member.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fastener portion of said decorative member is adapted to be fastened to said breast covering garment by means of a loop sewn on said breast covering garment at least one of said plurality of attachment points thereon.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein decorative member is of annular shape.
 13. The method of supporting a breast covering garment on an individual with the aid of an accessory garment comprising the following steps: a) providing a decorative connector having a first fastener for attachment to said breast covering garment and a second fastener for attachment to an accessory garment worn over the shoulder or around the neck of said individual, b) attaching said first fastener to said breast covering garment, c) attaching said second fastener to said accessory garment, d) attaching said accessory garment to said breast covering garment, and e) securing said accessory garment to the body of said individual.
 14. The method of supporting a breast covering garment on an individual with a decorative accessory of annular shape sewn on said garment by means of a loop and with the aid of an accessory garment, comprising the following steps: a) providing a breast covering garment with a decorative fastener of annular shape sewn onto said breast covering garment, b) attaching said accessory garment through said decorative fastener, and c) securing said accessory garment to the body of said individual. 